Hello from the Maldives! Even though I didn't book this trip that far in advance, this hotel stay has had more blog foreplay than HBO programming at 2AM. For those of you not up to date, here are the previous installments I've written about my trip: -- I’m Going To The Park Hyatt Maldives Alone(ish)……
Continue reading: Park Hyatt Maldives: Initial Thoughts
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Was there a year ago. Did 2 nights in the pool villa, and 2 nights in villa 49. The scuba thru the hotel was great, and i agree the massage at Vidhun was ever so relaxing.
The journey from the U.S was the only drawback for us, but we were honeymooners, so a stop over in dxb for few nights were great too. Enjoy your stay!
p.s try the fishing course and cooking course there. we enjoyed it.
I had the same experience at the Conrad Rangali Island - you're in the middle of nowhere and it's just awesome. We went on a fishing expedition and it was the most enjoyable thing I've ever done. There's something about literally having nothing to do and it's awesome. Glad you're enjoying the Maldives.
This blog is getting a bit risque 🙂 Between the "European cut" joke and now #top. Totally unexpected and hilarious.
Lucky, glad you are finally able to unwind. As someone who truly works 24/7, you've earned it. The Mrs and I were there 2 weeks ago for a belated honeymoon and up until 20 minutes before our departure will still researching creative ways on how to stay just one more night. For us, it might become an annual trip from London. Not sure I'd feel the same way from the US.
A side note - we booked the pool villa and were very happy with our choice. I felt that the main pool being right in front of the dining room was a bit too front & center. I enjoyed the spa pool, but loved being able to plunge (clothes optional) into our own pool at any hour of the day with no judgement from those chowing down on breakfast/lunch/dinner.
The rooms and the resort look gorgeous! Looking forward to the full review!
It's nice to disconnect sometimes, isn't it? 🙂
Ben,
Glad that you've had a nice surprise and are enjoying the Maldives. I'm like you in that I like to visit beautiful places, but after a few days I'm ready to go someplace where there's more "action." I'm a city-type guy, and I've not been to the Maldives yet, but thanks to your review, it's climbed way up on my list. Can't wait to go now!
Haha nice preview maybe a little TMI... But yeah PH Maldives now sounds a lot more appealing to me because I find it very hard to truly disconnect and relax. I tend to visit cities and thus am always checking my phone and email. I'd love to go to some remote part of the world and kick it early 90s style, back when I only used a giant Gateway 2000 for word processing and SimCity.
Villa looks great. Look forward to the full report!
I think Ben mentioned a "friend" was also staying there at the same time. Coincidence? Now I know why he likes it so much so far 😉 #Top lol
"This hotel prides itself in being sustainable"
You seriously can't be that delusional? Between the first class flights and the luxury hotel, this little trip leaves the equivalent carbon footprint as an entire village from a developing country. And ten there's the amount of fresh water consumed and waste produced, etc.
Which doesn't mean we must forgo all material comforts, but we need to at least face up to the impact we create on the world.
Beautiful resort and great pics! Nice to see you relax. No bathing suit photos? Was it well received?
PS I think Lucky being in Male and #top are redundant. 😉
Tell Deeksha we said hello. Tell her the "hot" cop and his partner misses her and that place. Last time I spoke, she was wanting to move to a Hyatt in Dubai.
Hmm, judging from the other comments, apparently #top does mean what I imagined it might. Oh boy 😉
Beautiful pictures, and the innuendo is hilarious 🙂
On a different note I'd take the backstage tour and propaganda with a grain of salt. Obviously they're only going to show the most positive aspects.
Lucky,
Quick question - is the breakfast included in the room rate on award reservations? We have the Hyatt CC and were told that breakfast would be free - from a friend who had stayed there last year.
What's the setup for breakfast, could you let us know?
I think your report confirms that I wont be checking the "points and miles required Maldives box". Just as "Vendoming" became a word, I'm now coining "Maldiving". Remember who started it! With such an expense, crazy travel time, and nothing to do there but sit on the beach, that can done much closer to home for way cheaper, just as secluded and just as, if not more beautiful.
Still don't get the joke though. Can't even look it up.
LOL at #top comment. I visited PH Maldives in June 2013… though I thought it was a beautiful property, it was way too remote and overrated for me. Here are my honest thoughts: http://justanotherpointstraveler.boardingarea.com/2013/07/22/10-things-to-know-about-park-hyatt-maldives/
I didn't realize that being the yoga type made me a bottom. I guess flexibility has more advantages in that position...
@ K -- You get a tray with some goodies when you arrive, and then you can order as much as you'd like off an a la carte menu. There are tons of options. I'm not sure if non-Diamonds get breakfast on award stays. I was under the impression they don't, but I could be mistaken.
@ Romer -- ROFL, I'll let her know. And she is soon headed to Abu Dhabi. Big loss for this property.
@ Maury -- It's $510 for the flight plus speedboat transfer per person roundtrip. No clue where the Conrad is.
@ Peter -- Happy you enjoyed it! Very true about the main pool feeling sort of "on display." I do love the spa pool, and there are also hours where the restaurant closes, so that helps. 😀
"The Maldives is also notorious for drug problems, which adds further “tension” to the service."
What on earth do you mean by this? Can you please clarify? I've never had anyone tell me of any drug problems there.
Good Work, Ben. You have journeyed far beyond your miles.
When I was your age, I learned this with my now husband in the Teton Wilderness Area
#Top
@ mkcol -- Just Google "Maldives drug problems" and you'll get all the information you could possibly want...
Love this blog it's fabulously entertaining oh the points thing is secondary. My 2 cents worth, " let's see the new swimmers with legs in them". #top. Enjoy the solitude and isolation!
@SG: Yours is ruined, and mine becomes better. I guess some win and some lose on this one. LOL
I have spent 4 nights in Maldives and 3 nights at PH last Sept. First night at Traders Maldives, for $400 a night, not impressed but that is probably best hotel in Male. PH on the other hand is in nice location, but boy these inter-island flights were scary. The PH hotel was nice as Lucky mentioned, but a bit run down. IMO still offers good value especially all on points to avoid hefty tax & fees. Last Sept, we want to do the equator trip for $2k, but 1 of their yacht was in Dubai for maintenance, and the other was broken at bay so we were out of luck. In PH's brochure they offer telescope for guests, but we were told they were broken as well. As far as I remember, 3, or 4 of their water villas was out of services and another 1/3 beach villas had their private breach washed away. IMO, going that far, there are better choices. We had good value for our stay, no doubt, we spend $1000 on the transfer from MLE to PH, and $2000 for 3 days of activities and food in PH. The room we had was a pool villa all on points, so no tax and room charges. I think we stayed at villa 25, but the beach was washed away for all the villas near us. We paid $35 dollars for a cooperstone sunscreen in PH, so don't forget to bring your own.
It doesn't have to be that way, Ben. http://www.phillymag.com/g-philly/2014/06/10/5-yoga-poses-make-better-bottom/
I happened to be staying at the Park Hyatt Maldives at the same time as Ben. We crossed paths at breakfast this morning.
It's my second visit here and I still find the place to be good value on Hyatt reward points. The privacy of your own villa is nice. Sure, you could pay $300 to get a private villa in Bali, but you'd be no where near the beach or some of the best snorkelling on the planet - not to mention being on your own semi private island.
This place still just "works". Two thumbs up.
@ worldtraveller73 -- Was great meeting you this morning! Enjoy the rest of your stay.
I'm not a native speaker, but consider my English good. Still do not get what #top means. From the comments, am I right in guessing that it means a particular part of the body has big size? I really googled but could not find an answer. Curious coz seems like a lot of comments seem to suggest this is very funny.
I appreciate reading the review, and I found all the innuendos (including in the comments) funny, too.
But, I have an actual travel question (or two): How do you get to Park Hyatt, since it's clearly not on the same island as Male. And, Ben/Lucky, did you leave the resort at all; and if so, what did you do and what do you recommend? You said you actually purchased the business class fare -- did you get it for ~$2000?
Thanks!
@ Michael -- The transfer between Male Airport and the hotel costs ~$500. It's an hour flight on a Dash-8, and then about a 30 minute speedboat ride. There's not really a practical way to leave the island.
I booked a one-way fare for ~$1,400:
https://onemileatatime.com/how-im-flying-home-from-the-maldives/